Hay-loader.



No. 689,931. Patented Dec. 3|, 1901.

J. H. THOMAS.

HAY LOADER.

(Applicafion filed Dec. 31, i900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shee't I.

Witnesses: I fl nventor @;M q 2 *fyqtwmey.

No.'689,93l. Patented Dec. 3|, |90|'..

,J. H. THOMAS.

HAY LOADE-R.

(Application filed Dec. 31, 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

wifnesss Jm/c nior Q zzomgy.

UNTTTn STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN H. THOMAS, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMAS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORA- TION OF OHIO.

HAY-LOADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 689,931, dated December 31, 1901.

Application filed December 31,1900. Serial No. 41,613. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN H. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hay-Loaders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to hay-loaders, and more particularly to that class in which a transverse crank-shaft is employed to actuate the forks by means of which the hay is transferred from the bottom to the top of the loader. This crank-shaft is of considerable length and is bent to form a plurality of cranks connected by diagonal or inclined arms. Owing to its length and the strains brought upon it, this shaft is liable to bend or sag, more particularly at its middle.

It is the object of my present invention to overcome this difficulty and provide a simple and efficient support for that portion of the shaft between its end bearings, thus rendering practicable the use of a single shaft extending entirely across the machine.

To these ends my invention consists in certain novel features, which I will now proceed to describe, and will then particularly point out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a hay-loader embodying my invention in one form, taken on the line :0 a; of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail View in elevation of a portion of the structure. Fig. 4: is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view, on a still larger scale, of the bearing-box of the central support detached.

In the said drawings, 1 indicates the body or frame of the machine, mounted in the usual manner and having the reciprocating forks 2, actuated by means of the crank-shaft 3. This crank-shaft is bent to form a plurality of cranks a, connected by diagonal portions or arms 5, and said shaft extends continuously across the machine, its end portions being supported in bearings 6 on the frame of the machine. One of the crank-arms, preferably the central one, instead of extending diagonallyin a straight line between the two cranks which it connects, is provided with a central portion 7, which is arranged with its axis coincident with the axis of revolution of the crank-shaft, said axial portion being connected with the adjacent cranks by means of portions 8, bent at right angles to the axial portion and to the cranks. This shaft is preferably made in a single piece and is bent to the form described. Upon the axial portion of the shaft is located a bearing-box 9, composed of tWo separable halves to permit its ready application to the crank-shaft and provided with a bearing-aperture 10, in which the axial central portion of the crank-shaft fits and rotates. The lower portion of the bearing'box is preferably rounded off, as indicated at ll, and is provided at each end with a marginal flange 12, and the uppersection of the box is provided with similar flanges 13, thus forming a groove or seat 14, extending around three sides of the box. This groove or seat receives a strap 15, which fits therein and which is secured in position by means of a bolt 16, passing through both arms or branches of the strap immediately above the top of the bearing-box 9. The strap which supports the bearing-box is preferably made in two parts, as shown, in which case the strap 15 constitutes the lower part of the supporting-strap, while a second strap 17 constitutes the upper part of the supporting-strap, its lower ends being connected with the upper ends of the strap 15 in any suitable manner-as, for instance, by the same bolt 16 which secures the strap and bearing-box together. The bearing-box is suspended, by means of its supporting-strap, from a cross piece or brace 18, mounted on the frame of the machine. This cross piece or brace may be of any approved construction and is supported at its ends upon brackets 19 from the sides of the bed-frame, extending across the machine parallel with the crank-shaft and preferably in a position above and in advance of said shaft. This cross-piece is preferably provided with a truss-rod 20, around which the supporting-strap passes and upon which it is pivotally mounted, so as to permit the supporting-strap to vibrate and aceommodate itself to any variations in the alinement of the shaft, thereby avoiding any binding between the shaft and the bearingbox. A bracket 21, secured to the crosspiece 18 and having apertures in its projecting arms, through which the truss-rod 20 passes, serves to embrace the supporting-strap between its arms, and thereby maintain its position upon the truss-rod. It will, be noted that the crank-shaft is thus supported at or near its center, so as to prevent sagging at that point, and that a single crank-shaft may be employed, extending entirely across the machine. It will also be noted that the crosspiece is located not only above but in front of the crank-shaft, the position being such as to cause the maximum thrust and pull of the crank-shaft during its revolution, owing to the contact of the rakes with the soil andplatform and the reversal of their direction of travel, to be exerted in a practically direct line through the supporting-strap to the crosspiece, so that instead of the strain upon the strap being in a direction transverse thereto said strain is exerted longitudinally of the strap, thereby minimizing vibration.

It is obvious that the construction shown and described may be duplicated and that a number of intermediate supports may be employedif deemed necessary or desirable. It is also obvious that various modifications of the specific embodiment of' my invention hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the principle of myinvention. For instance, the truss-rod and the pivotal connection of the supporting-strap, or either of these features, may be omitted. I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details of construction hereinbefore described, and shown in the drawings.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1.. In a hay-loader, the combination, with a frame, of a transverse crank-shaft provided with a plurality of cranks and supported at its ends in bearings on the frame, said crankshaft being provided with an intermediate straight portion having its axis coincident with the axis of rotation of. the crank-shaft, a cross-piece mounted on the frame above and in front of the crank-shaft, a bearing for the intermediate axial portion of the crankshaft supported from said cross-piece, and rake-bars journaled on the cranks of said shaft near their lower ends and suitably supported at their upper ends, substantially as described.

2. In a hay-loader, the combination, with a frame, of a transverse crank-shaft provided with a plurality of cranks and supported at its ends in bearings on the frame, said crankshaft being provided with an intermediate straight portion having its axis coincident with the axis of rotation of the crank-shaft, a cross-piece mounted on the frame above and in front of the crank-shaft, a bearing-box supported from said cross-piece and serving as a bearing for the intermediate axial portion of the crank-shaft, and rake-bars journaled on the cranks of said shaft near their lower ends and suitably supported at their upper ends, substantially as described.

3. In a hay-loader, the combination, with a frame, of an integral transverse crank-shaft provided with a plurality of cranks and supported at its ends in hearings on the frame, said crank-shaft being provided with an intermediate straight portion having its axis coincident with the axis of rotation of the crank-shaft, and the cranks on the opposite sides of said straight portion immediately adjacent thereto being oppositely arranged, a cross-piece mounted on the frame above and in front of the crank-shaft, a bearing-box supported from said cross-piece and serving as a bearing for the intermediate axial portion of the crank-shaft, and rake-bars journaled on the cranks of said shaft near their lower ends and suitably supported at their upper ends, substantially as described.

4. In a hay-loader, the combination, with a frame, of a crank-shaft having a plurality of cranks and supported at its ends in bearings on the frame, said crank-shaft being provided with an intermediate straight portion having its axis coincident with the axis of revolution of the shaft, a cross-piece on the frame, a bearing-box for the axial portion of the crankshaft, and a strap supporting said bearingbox and itself pivotally supported from the cross-piece, substantially as described.

5. In a hay-loader, the combination, with a frame, of a crank-shaft having a plurality of cranks and supported at its ends in bearings on the frame, said crank-shaft having an intermediate straight portion, the axis whereof is coincident with the axis of rotation of the shaft, a two-part bearing-box for said axial portion having a rounded lower portion and an external groove or seat, a cross piece mounted on the frame, a strap supported from said cross-piece and passing around the bearing-box in the groove or seat thereof, and a bolt extending through the two arms or branches of the strap immediately above the bearing-box, substantially as described.

6. In a hay-loader, the combination, with a frame, of a crank-shaft having a plurality of cranks and supported at its ends in bearings on the frame, said crank having an intermediate straight portion, the axis whereof is coincident with the axis of rotation of the shaft, a bearing-box for said axial portion, a crosspiece mounted on the frame, and a two-part strap, the portions whereof engage respectively with the bearing-box and the crosspiece, their meeting ends being connected by cranks and supported at its ends in hearings on the frame, said crank-shaft having an intermediate straight portion, the axis whereof is coincident with the axis of rotation of the shaft, a bearing-box for said axial portion, a cross-piece mounted on the frame and comprising a body portion, a truss-rod and a U- shaped bracket through the arms of which the truss-rod passes, and a supporting-strap passing around the bearing-box and around the truss-rod between the arms of the bracket, substantially as described. 10

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. THOMAS. \Vitnesses:

ALBERT H. KUNKLE, IRVINE MILLER. 

